Psychopharmacological Interventions in Autism Spectrum Disorders
Summary
Psychopharmacological interventions in autism spectrum disorders target both core deficits in social communication and restricted, repetitive behaviours, as well as associated symptoms such as irritability, hyperactivity and anxiety. Currently, only two antipsychotics are licensed for irritability in paediatric ASD, with risperidone and aripiprazole demonstrating significant reductions in aggression and self‐injurious behaviours but accompanied by weight gain and metabolic concerns. Adjunctive dietary and nutraceutical agents, including sulforaphane and N-acetylcysteine, have been explored for their neuroprotective and antioxidative properties. Emerging compounds modulating GABAergic, glutamatergic and oxytocin pathways—such as bumetanide, arbaclofen and intranasal oxytocin—have yielded preliminary improvements in social reciprocity and repetitive behaviours. Nonetheless, heterogeneity in trial design, small sample sizes and short durations limit generalisability, underscoring the need for multicentre, stratified studies to refine precision treatment strategies globally.
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Psychopharmacological Interventions in Autism Spectrum Disorders publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in psychopharmacological interventions in autism spectrum disorders across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Core symptoms: Fundamental impairments in social communication and the presence of restricted, repetitive patterns of behaviour characteristic of autism spectrum disorders.
Irritability: A clinical state marked by heightened aggression, temper outbursts and self-injurious behaviours often comorbid with ASD.
Repetitive and stereotyped behaviours: Recurrent motor movements or insistence on sameness that contribute to restricted interests in ASD.
Emotional dysregulation: Difficulty in managing emotional responses, leading to mood swings, irritability and behavioural challenges in ASD.
Augmentation: The addition of a secondary agent to an established pharmacological treatment to enhance therapeutic outcomes.
Network meta-analysis: A statistical method that compares multiple treatments across trials to estimate their relative efficacy and safety.
References
- Pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions for irritability in autism spectrum disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis with the GRADE assessment. Molecular Autism (2024).
- An Update on Psychopharmacological Treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorder. Neurotherapeutics (2022).
- Pharmacological and dietary-supplement treatments for autism spectrum disorder: a systematic review and network meta-analysis. Molecular Autism (2022).
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